Rotary World Service - District 5950 Group Study Exchange 2003

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Mike Morris
John Hobday
Margit Karkela
Lynn Keillor
Alanna Simone Tyler

THE TRIP
April 22-23 - Days 1-2
April 24 - Day 3
April 25 - Day 4
April 26 - Day 5
April 27 - Day 6
April 28 - Day 7
April 29 - Day 8
April 30 - Day 9
May 1 - Day 10
May 2 - Day 11
May 3 - Day 12
May 4 - Day 13
May 5 - Day 14
May 6 - Day 15
May 7 - Day 16
May 8 - Day 17
May 9 - Day 18
May 10 - Day 19
May 11 - Day 20
May 12 - Day 21
May 13 - Day 22
May 14 - Day 23
May 15 - Day 24
May 16 - Day 25
May 17 - Day 26
May 18 - Day 27
May 19 - Day 28
May 20 - Day 29

May 8, 2003
GSE team on the road
Alanna Simone Tyler

Today is the final day of our special GSE road tour of the fjords in the western part of Norway. We have been jumping in and out of a Volkswagon van, riding trains and taking ferries for three days. Today’s itinerary: leave Voss and make our way to Ulvik. Then to Kvandal. Then to Utne by ferry. Then to Odda. Then through Lofthus. Then to Hardanga Vidda Wildlife Center. We end the day with a visit to a waterfall in Måbødalen Valley.

On this last day of the road tour we crossed our fingers and hoped no one would get car sick as we completed our estimated 548 km round trip. It has been worthwhile to be on the move so much because—just as our hosts in Drammen, Kongsberg and Gol told us—this portion of the trip is very special because of the beauty and splendour of the fjords.

The Hardangerfjord and the smaller Eidfjord have been inspiration to artist for hundreds of years. We visited the Hardanger Folk Museum in Utne and there we saw evidence of the fjords influence in old and contemporary works. (Photo right: The Hardanger fjord.)

Maybe the fjords inspired the artistry of the Hardanger fiddles. We saw several very old instruments displayed and each had beautiful detailed work. Maybe the fjords inspired the famous fiddler Holland Meland who is known for his extended re-mixes of traditional Hardanger fiddle compositions. The museum also features contemporary work of several local ceramic artist including Per Norres. The Norres design we saw were fairly simple in shape but the glaze on the pieces were a combination of rich blues and earth tones seeming to mimic the fjords and surrounding scenery.

Our VW van made a brief stop at the Hotel Ullensvang and there we saw composer Edward Grieg’s summer cottage. The cottage itself was quite small with only enough room for a chair, small writing table and an upright piano. From the window Grieg enjoyed a spectacular view of the Eidfjord and found inspiration for his compositions. (Photo left: Mike and John take a moment to appreciate the spectacular Norwegian fjord country along the Eidsfjord.)

We stopped at the Hardangervidda Wildlife Center in Øvre Eidfjord where we experienced the high mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and deep fjords via a film projected on a panoramic screen. After the film we walked through the hands-on museum to learn about the terrain, plant and animal life. HERE are a couple of factoids from the Center’s literature you may use in casual conversation to impress your friends:

• 560,000 pounds of fish, mostly mountain trout, are found in the waters in this area annually and
• the oldest rocks on the Hardangervidda plateau are between 1100 and 1700 million years old—revealing this part of Norway once formed part of the ocean floor.

Throughout the day we have been pleased to see one of the first signs of spring: blossoming fruit trees. Hardanger apples and cherries are on the way. (Photo left: Hardanger fjord is home of Norway's most productive orchards, with an early blossom of the apple trees this year.)

Vøringsfossen (waterfall) at the end of the Eidfjord was our final stop before heading back to Gol. We climbed a few rocks across the valley from the waterfall. Vøringsfossen was not flowing as fully as it will later in the spring but it was nevertheless spectacular.

The team extends special thanks to the patient and good-humored Gol Rotarians Birger Rustberggard and Ove Thorshaug. Drawing on their considerable knowledge of this area in Norway, Birger and Ove planned the fjord tour and ensured we did not miss anything on the way! We hope to act as their host and tour guides in the near future when they visit Minnesota.

After dinner, all of the host families and the GSE team enjoyed our last evening together at the home of Alexander and Margret Ferner. We laughed, gave an account of our adventures through Vestland and shared pictures. We depart Gol having made new friends we hope to see again. (Photo right: A Fun evening party to say goodbye to our great hosts in Gol.)

Tomorrow we will travel to Hønefoss in Ringerike.